Investing in collectibles can be volatile and incredibly enriching if you have the right trading card, comic book or action figure in mint condition. The rise and fall of the Beanie Baby investment bubble from the mid-90s into the early 2000s is an example of what can happen when you follow a trend too closely. There were even organized Beanie Baby theft rings.
There is risk in most investments except U.S. Savings bonds and U.S. Treasuries. Investing in stocks is risky but the risks can be measured and reflected in the price as the market can adjust quickly and absorb changing conditions.
A recent study by Casino.org explored alternative investments with higher annual return rates than the average stock. The study looked at the following factors: Release dates, retail prices, current values, annual return rates, and total growth. I was very surprised by some of the top valued collectible toys and not so surprised by the enduring value of Micky Mantle's 1952 Topps card.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Be a smarter, better informed investor.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
The alternative investments that are outpacing the stock market
The study looked into the unconventional world of alternative investments, analyzing over 85 different collectible products. Their findings show that collectibles such as Hot Wheels and rare trading cards are quietly outperforming traditional investments in annual return on investments (ROIs).
Let's first take a look at the past decade of returns on some of the most common investments, according to Bankrate.com.
- Average annual return on stocks: 12.8%
- Average annual return on international stocks: 4.9%
- Average annual return on bonds: 1.4%
- Average annual return on gold: 3.4%
- Average annual return on real estate: 4.8%
- Average annual return on 1-year CDs: 0.42%
Here’s a look at the top 10 products that have seen the highest total growth in dollar value, turning modest initial investments into remarkable profits.
| Type of asset | Collectible | Original price | Current value/Total growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trading Cards | 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle #311 SGC Mint+ 9.5 – 1985 Rosen Find – “Finest Known Example!” (1952) | $0.10 | $12,600,000/$12,600,000 |
| Comic Books | Action Comics #1 Kansas City Pedigree (1938) | $0.10 | $6,000,000/$6,000,000 |
| Trading Cards | Stephen Curry Rookie Card #206 signed (2009) | $5.00 | $5,900,000/$5,899,995 |
| Comic Books | Amazing Fantasy #15 (Marvel, 1962) CGC NM+ 9.6 | $0.12 | $3,600,000/$3,600,000 |
| Comic Books | Marvel Super-Heroes Secret Wars #8 Story Page 25 Black Costume/Venom Original Art (1984) | $1.25 | $3,360,000/$3,359,999 |
| Comic Books | Action Comics #1 Rocket Copy (1938) CGC FN 6.0 | $0.10 | $3,180,000/$3,180,000 |
| Comic Books | Captain America Comics #1 San Francisco Pedigree (1941) CGC NM 9.4 | $0.10 | $3,120,000/$3,120,000 |
| Comic Books | Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #1 Cover Original Art (1986) | $1.50 | $2,400,000/$2,399,999 |
| Comic Books | Superman #1 (DC, 1939) CGC FN/VF 7.0 | $0.10 | $2,340,000/$2,340,000 |
| Comic Books | Books – Batman #1 (DC, 1940) CGC NM 9.4 | $0.10 | $2,220,000/$2,220,000 |
Here are the top 10 categories with the highest average annual return rates. New to the list: Hot Wheels and Funko Pop! dolls. Old stalwarts of the pre-Ebay collectible market such as trading cards, comic books and action figures continue to deliver.
| Collectible category | Average Annual Return Rates (%) | Most valuable item per category | Release date/Retail price | Today's price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hot Wheels | 1178.8% | Hot Wheels “Super Treasure Hunt 2023 Datsun Bluebird Wagon 510”: | 2023/$3.00 | $170 |
| Action Figures | 154.7% | Monster High Skullector Elvira Doll | 2023/$65.00 | $299 |
| Funko Pop! | 151.7% | Funko Pop! “Rides One Piece Luffy with Thousand Sunny 2022 CCXP Exclusive Figure #114” | 2022/$15.00 | $531 |
| Sneakers | 52.8% | Nike SB Dunk Low Grateful Dead Bears Orange | 2020/$110.00 | $2,000 |
| Trading Cards | 50.0% | Stephen Curry Rookie Card #206 signed (2009) | 2009/$5.00 | $5.9 million |
| Video Games | 33.1% | Super Mario Wata 9.8 a++ Sealed N64 Nintendo 1996 USA | 1996/$60.00 | $1.56 million |
| Comic Books | 28.6% | Comic Books – Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #1 Cover Original Art (1986) | 1986/$1.50 | $2.4 million |
| First/Rare Edition Books | 25.3% | J.K..Rowling Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (London) Bloomsbury, 1997 First edition in hardcover | 1997/$15.00 | $471,000 |
| LEGO | 24.6% | LEGO Brick Headz Star Wars Captain Phasma Set 41486 | 2017/$10.00 | $87.00 |
I was surprised to see that collectibles such as Hot Wheels are generating increases in value similar to trading cards, and that they are delivering impressive returns.
| Collectible category | Collectible | Annual return rates |
|---|---|---|
| Hot Wheels | Super Treasure Hunt 2023 Datsun Bluebird Wagon 510 | 5566.7% |
| Hot Wheels | Super Treasure Hunt 2023 82 Toyota Supra | 3366.7% |
| Hot Wheels | Super Treasure Hunt 2023 Porsche 935 | 1233.3% |
| Hot Wheels | Super Treasure Hunt 2022 99 Honda Civic Type R (EK9) | 758.3% |
| Funko Pop! | Rides One Piece Luffy with Thousand Sunny 2022 CCXP Exclusive Figure #114 | 451.9% |
| Funko Pop! | Marvel Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse Spider-Punk Funko Shop Exclusive Figure #1231 | 366.7% |
| Action Figures | Monster High Skullector Elvira Doll | 360% |
| Action Figures | Mattel Monster High Lagoona Blue Reproduction Doll | 248.5% |
| Action Figures | Mattel Monster High Haunt Couture Draculaura Doll | 158.2% |
| Hot Wheels | Hot Wheels Super Treasure Hunt 2020 Lamborghini Sesto Elemento | 156.6% |
Related Content
-
IRS 1099-K Threshold for 2025 Taxes Just Changed: What to Know NowTax Law After years of uncertainty and changing requirements, the 1099-K reporting rules for 2025 are now set, and the thresholds have changed since last year.
-
The 'Permission to Spend' Rules of Retirement SpendingHere’s how to spend guilt-free when you are in retirement.
-
I Want to Retire, but I Have to Keep Working so My Adult Kids Have InsuranceIt's a tricky period when your adult child is under 26 but needs health insurance. We ask financial experts for advice.
-
Don't Let Your Equity Compensation Trip You Up: A Financial Expert's GuideStock options, RSUs and other executive perks can come with some serious strings attached. To avoid a nasty tax surprise, you need a plan.
-
I Work From Home, and These Are the Best Home Office Upgrades From October Prime Day and Anti-Prime Day SalesSpruce up your office for less with these sales. You could also qualify for tax credits with some upgrades.
-
Should You Replace Your Financial Adviser with AI?Financial Help Many people already ask AI for financial advice. But is it good enough to replace a human financial adviser?
-
Savvy Savings Moves to Make Now – Or You Could Lose ThousandsDespite a rate cut and inflation, these moves can still help you reach your savings goals quickly.
-
Escaping the New Golden Handcuffs: A Financial Expert Has a Plan for Today's ExecutivesFeeling stuck in your job? It could be your complicated compensation package, but it also could be where you live, your family or even how you view yourself.
-
A Comfortable Retirement is About More Than MoneyWhen it comes to a happy retirement, money can’t buy these things.
-
Four Ways a Massive Emergency Fund Can Hurt You More Than It HelpsSaving too much could mean you're missing opportunities to put your money to work. Redirect some of that money toward paying off debt, building retirement funds, fulfilling a dream or investing in higher-growth options.
